“2017 Macao International Parade” features a new route Celebration of the 18th Anniversary of Macao’s Handover to China
Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), the “2017 Macau International Parade”, celebrating the 18th Anniversary of Macao’s handover to China, will be held on Sunday, 17 December, at 3pm. This year, the Parade is themed with “features of local districts and historic monuments”, inviting residents and tourists to take part in a feast of “Peace, Love and Cultural Integration”, celebrating the handover together.
The Parade is one of the major events celebrating Macao’s Handover to China and it has already become one of the city’s trademark events since its first edition in 2011. This year, the “Parade through Macau, Latin City” was renamed “Macao International Parade”, hoping that the event will move towards internationalization, demonstrating the unique charm of Macao. Likewise, this year the Parade will break through the practice of the past editions by setting a new route, aiming at offering innovative elements and new perspectives to residents and tourists. On the day of the Parade, an extraordinary opening ceremony will be held at the Ruins of St. Paul’s at 3pm, after which the local and foreign participating groups will pass through Rua de S. Paulo, Largo de S. Domingos, Senado Square, Travessa do Roquete, Cathedral Square, Avenida da Praia Grande, Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van and Avenida Doutor Stanley Ho, spreading joy throughout the city’s busy streets and avenues. The Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van, the main performance zone of the Parade, will be transformed into a “vibrant dance floor”. Finally, the participating groups will arrive at the Sai Van Lake Square at 6:30pm to celebrate the handover in a festive and carnival atmosphere.
Additionally, the Parade will feature a series of activities, including the “Arts Promotion Parade Group” to be held at Ruins of St. Paul’s and Iao Hon Garden, the performance by Luna Morena Títeres Teatro at Largo do Pagode da Barra, the musical on stilts from Brazil at Iao Hon Garden and the puppet theatre Find Monsters by Teatro Infantil Xiao Douhao de Shenzhen to be held in primary schools in Macao, besides performances in various districts. The Parade also features a series of promotional activities, including a photography contest, games with prizes and other creative activities. The “VIVA Ambassadors” will provide assistance on the day of Parade, in order to ensure the public to enjoy the event in an orderly, safe and pleasurable way. Members of the public may follow the Parade’s page on Facebook and WeChat account to get the latest information.
This year, the Parade organizer has made arrangements with TV channels from Hong Kong to broadcast excerpts of the event, thereby increasing the visibility of the Parade. TDM - Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. will broadcast the entire event live and outdoor screens will be installed at several locations – Barrier Gate Plaza, Iao Hon Garden, Rotunda Carlos da Maia and Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro. The popular Hong Kong TVB programme ‘Scoop’ will feature a foretaste of the event on 15 and 21 December, as well as a Parade Special Programme dedicated to the event’s highlights on 23 December. On the day of Parade, crowd control measures will be implemented and some streets will be temporarily closed to traffic. The public is thus advised to walk to the Parade venues on foot or use public transportation. In order to ensure public safety, use of unmanned aerial devices will not be allowed.
The Parade is organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and co-organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office, the Sports Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Public Security Police Force, the Transport Bureau, the Fire Services Bureau and the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau of Macao. TDM - Teledifusão de Macau S.A. is the designated live television broadcaster and CTM - Macau Telecom Company, Ltd. is the telecom partner. The Parade is fully supported by Air Macau Co, Ltd., Companhia de Electricidade de Macau – CEM, S.A., Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre, Coca-Cola Macau Limited and AJ Hackett. The Cultural Affairs Bureau also receive the support from the Macao General Union of Neighbourhood Associations as well as from the VIVA Ambassadors supporters, namely the Bank of China Macau Branch Volunteers Association, the Macao Community Youth Volunteers Development Association, the General Volunteers Association of Macao, The Boys’ Brigade, Macau, The Scouts Association of Macau and the Association of Volunteers Social Service Macao.
The Press Conference of the “2017 Macau International Parade” was held by the Cultural Affairs Bureau on 9 November, at 3pm, at the Macao Cultural Centre. The Press Conference was attended by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leung Hio Ming; the Vice Presidents of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Kent Ieong Chi Kin and Chan Peng Fai; the Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Cheng WaiTong; the Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Services Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Chao Ka Cheong; the Chief of Sports Facility Management Department of the Sports Bureau, Ho Wa; the Head of the Division of Operations and Communications of the Public Security Police Force of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Lau Hang Yi Clara; the Head of the Coordination Division of the Traffic Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Mok Soi Tou; the Vice President of Air Macau Company Limited, Zeng Hua Liang; the General Manager of Marketing of CTM - Macau Telecom Company, Ltd., Joe Hoe; the Director of Business Development of the Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre, Synthia Chan;
the Manager of Programmes Production Division of TDM, Ltd., Leong Chon Wa; the Group Marketing Associate Director of Coca-Cola Macau Limited, Sonia Vong; and the Vice-President of the Macao General Union of Neighbourhood Associations, Che Mei Leng.